Our 2012 Rosé is a brilliant hue with vivid aromatics of watermelon layered with guava, carnations and a hint of cardomon spice. This bright, full flavored, dry Rosé has a crisp red fruit palate with hints of citrus that are balanced by the signature minerality and refreshing acidity. Chilled Rosé perfectly complements summertime cooking and is an excellent aperitif.

522 Cases Produced

Wine Profile

Tasting Notes

Our 2012 Rosé is a brilliant hue with vivid aromatics of watermelon layered with guava, carnations and a hint
of cardamon spice. This bright, full flavored, dry Rosé has a crisp red fruit palate with hints of citrus that are balanced
by the signature minerality and refreshing acidity. Chilled Rosé perfectly complements summertime cooking and is an
excellent aperitif.

Vineyard Notes

From our mountain vineyard that overlooks the Sonoma Coast and now part of the new Fort Ross-Seaview American
Viticultural Area, Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery produces limited quantities of single vineyard, Estate grown, cool-climate
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinotage. With spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean less than one mile away, the vineyard
is divided into 30 separate blocks, one-half to two acres in size, that rapidly fall from 1700 down to 1200 feet above sea
level. Owners, Lester and Linda Schwartz and their small crew began preparing the 50 acre vineyard in 1994. It took
them 4 years of preparation before they could begin planting the first vines in 1998.

Production Notes

The 2012 vintage got off to a very slow start. It was cold and wet throughout the spring so the buds did not
swell until surprisingly late in the season. As budbreak was so late, the weather was generally warm and stable
during bloom – except for one worrying rainy day that did not affect the crop – only our composure. With such
a late start to the vintage, there was less time left to ripen the grapes so we dropped a fair amount of fruit early
on so that each vine would have less fruit to ripen and the harvest would not stretch on into inclement weather.
The season veered between cold and extreme heat. We harvested when the weather was cooler and we were very
satisfied with the quality of the fruit that reminded us of the excellent 2007 vintage.

Winemaker Notes

This Rosé was made from 100% Pinot Noir, using the French saignée method. After hand-sorting, the grapes were
crushed and allowed to soak on the skins for 24 hours. A small amount of free-run juice was then "bled" and
separated from the recently crushed grapes and fermented without further contact with the skins and seeds. The
wine was barrel fermented and aged for 3 months in neutral French oak barrels.